Speaking as a real estate agent of more than 20 years, our industry is no stranger to change.
Whether you’re curious about what real estate used to look like or are interested in learning about some of the latest innovations that can help you buy or sell a house, you’ve come to the right place!
In this blog, I’m sharing some of the most interesting changes I’ve seen throughout my career.
How Real Estate Has Evolved
Before diving into my personal experience, it’s important to mention that real estate, as an industry, isn’t universal. Every market is its own unique world. So while certain cities and neighbourhoods embrace new trends and technologies, others pick them up slowly over time.
The same goes for the professionals who drive the industry forward. Certain agents love to push boundaries, while others are more old school. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to research multiple Realtors before you decide who to hire.
Curious about my love for real estate and my role as an agent? Read these blog posts next!
- Melissa Emond: Number One at Re/Max West Realty
- Get to Know Me, Melissa Emond
- Melissa Emond Featured on HGTV’s Top of the Block
Client Pick Up
Real estate agents have a lot of responsibilities, but they don’t typically include being a chauffeur – at least not anymore. Today, agents typically meet buyers directly at the home they’re viewing, but this wasn’t always the norm.
Back in the day, real estate agents would often personally drive their buyers to showing appointments. Travelling together made for easier communication and scheduling in a time before everyone had a cellphone in their pocket.
Making an Offer on a House In Person
Offers are one of the most important parts of a real estate transaction, both for buyers and sellers. However, the processes of submitting and receiving an offer look much different today than they used to.
For example, buyers used to submit offers in person, physically handing over the document to the seller and their agent. Today, a buyer’s agent will submit their offer digitally.
Almost Gone: Open Houses
20 years ago, open houses were an absolute must for home sellers. But in the years since, they’ve gradually become less and less common. Today, many real estate agents only recommend hosting them for specific homes.
A big reason behind the slow death of the open house is that today’s buyers can discover new homes from practically anywhere, at any time, thanks to new technologies. More on this next!
It’s a Digital World
Technology has evolved significantly over the last couple of decades, impacting almost every aspect of daily life. As you might expect, these digital advancements have brought plenty of change to the world of real estate.
New Tools For Buyers
Technology has greatly changed the way buyers find homes. For starters, the internet played a much smaller role in real estate when I first started my career. We didn’t have online listings, social media, virtual floor plans, digital staging tools, QR codes, or other modern methods of exploring homes.
About to buy a home? Check out these other blog posts to learn more about buying.
- Buying a House in a Buyer’s Market: What Are the Perks?
- What Makes a House More Affordable?
- Insider Tips For Buying a Home in South Etobicoke
How Homes Get Sold
On the other side of the coin, digital marketing, which largely didn’t exist 20 years ago, has become a super important aspect of selling a house. Realtors are constantly utilizing new technologies to get listings in front of as many potential buyers as possible. New tools like drones have also created unique ways of highlighting a home’s appeal.
Enhanced Security
Technology has also evolved to offer sellers a greater degree of security as they welcome potential buyers into their home. If you’ve attended an open house or showing recently, you may have noticed security cameras set up around the home.
With these setups becoming more affordable and accessible for homeowners, sellers gain an extra degree of security and peace of mind while their home is on the market.
Reach Your Real Estate Goals
One thing that hasn’t changed in 20 years? The importance of choosing the right real estate agent for your home purchase or sale.
If you’re looking to make real estate moves in South Etobicoke, I’m here to help. With more than 2 decades of experience, I have the insight, experience and technologies to help you reach your goals. Get in touch today.
Thinking about buying or selling? I can help! Call or text me at 647-239-7587 or send me an email at melissa@southetobicoke.com to get started.
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